It was a peaceful morning in the village. The birds chirped cheerfully, the sky was clear and blue, and the air smelled fresh after a light rain the night before. CUTIS, the kind-hearted man who had taken in a rescued baby monkey named Miko, was enjoying his cup of tea on the porch. Everything was calm… until it wasn’t.
A loud squish. Then a flop. Then—splat!
From around the corner came a blur of brown fur and flying mud. CUTIS barely had time to stand before he was met face-to-face with the cause of the chaos: Miko, the baby monkey, covered head-to-toe in sticky, gooey mud, bounding toward him with gleeful screeches.
“Miko! What on earth—” CUTIS gasped.
The little monkey didn’t slow down. He leaped into CUTIS’s lap with a triumphant squeal, smearing muddy paw prints all over his shirt, arms, and even his face.
CUTIS coughed as a bit of mud splashed into his tea.
“Buddy… seriously?”
Miko blinked innocently, his face barely visible beneath layers of caked-on earth. His fur, usually soft and golden-brown, was now a patchy mess of dark muck and little green leaves. His tail flicked lazily behind him, flicking more mud onto the wall.
Just an hour earlier, Miko had been his usual curious self, bouncing around the garden looking for adventure. But when he spotted the freshly formed puddles near the back fence—a result of the heavy overnight rain—he couldn’t resist. The soft earth squished between his toes, and before long, he was rolling, flipping, and sliding like a monkey on a mission.
He splashed in the puddles with wild delight, doing somersaults and chasing his own reflection in the water. At one point, he even lay on his back and made what looked like “mud angels” with his arms and legs, giggling the whole time. What started as innocent fun quickly turned into a full-blown muddy mayhem.
CUTIS took a deep breath and carefully stood up, holding Miko out in front of him like a dripping, wiggling mess.
“Bath time,” he muttered.
Miko’s eyes widened. The word “bath” wasn’t his favorite.
“Nope, don’t give me those big eyes,” CUTIS said firmly. “You brought this on yourself!”
As CUTIS carried him to the outdoor washing area, Miko squirmed and chirped, grabbing at anything nearby—tree branches, the broom handle, even CUTIS’s earlobe. But the man was determined.
He filled a large basin with warm water, added a few drops of gentle soap, and set it down on the stone floor. Miko, sensing his fate, grabbed onto CUTIS’s arm and refused to let go.
“Oh, come on! It’s not lava,” CUTIS chuckled. “You love the rain but hate the tub?”
Eventually, with a little coaxing—and a banana bribe—Miko dipped one foot into the water. Then another. CUTIS splashed gently to show him it was okay. Finally, with a resigned sigh, Miko sat down, sending a ripple through the water that turned brown instantly.
CUTIS took a small sponge and began to wash the mud from Miko’s fur. Bit by bit, the soft golden hue returned. Miko closed his eyes and relaxed, occasionally letting out a tiny coo of pleasure. CUTIS scrubbed behind his ears, gently rubbed his tail, and made sure no mud was hiding in tricky spots like under his arms or between his toes.
“You’re lucky I love you, monkey,” CUTIS said with a smile.
The bath turned into a bonding moment. Miko began splashing CUTIS back, giggling again—this time cleaner but still cheeky. CUTIS laughed and grabbed another towel. After rinsing him off with fresh water, he wrapped Miko in the towel like a little burrito and sat with him in the sun to dry.
“You know,” CUTIS said, “when I found you, I didn’t realize you’d become the muddiest monkey in the whole jungle.”
Miko blinked up at him and yawned.
As he dried off, CUTIS took out a soft brush and gently combed through his fur, restoring its fluff and shine. Miko leaned into the brushing, eyes half-closed, clearly enjoying the attention. His earlier energy was now spent, and all that rolling, sliding, and splashing had made him ready for a nap.
The two sat together on the porch again, this time much cleaner, with the sunshine warming their skin and fur. Miko snuggled close, dozing peacefully while CUTIS gently rocked back and forth on his wooden chair.
But peace never lasted too long with Miko around.
From behind the garden fence, a mischievous breeze blew in, carrying with it the scent of ripened fruit. Miko’s nose twitched. His eyes popped open.
“Uh-oh,” CUTIS muttered, watching the glint of curiosity return to the monkey’s eyes. “You better not be thinking what I think you’re thinking.”
But it was already too late.
Miko jumped down from the porch and dashed toward the mango tree on the far side of the garden. CUTIS shook his head with a grin.
“There he goes again.”
And sure enough, as Miko reached the tree and tried to climb it, he slipped on the still-wet earth and landed—SPLAT!—right back into a smaller puddle that had survived the morning sun.
CUTIS sighed. “Round two?”
Miko rolled onto his back, giggling again, mud squishing around his tiny feet.
“Okay, okay,” CUTIS called out. “But you’re giving me a bath next time!”
